U.S. patent application number 09/833028 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-13 for walk-on platform arrangement.
This patent application is currently assigned to Durr Systems GmbH. Invention is credited to Mueller, Guenther, Walter, Guenter.
Application Number | 20010050044 09/833028 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7940247 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010050044 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mueller, Guenther ; et
al. |
December 13, 2001 |
Walk-on platform arrangement
Abstract
In order to provide a walk-on platform arrangement, comprising
at least one first sub-platform, which is movable from a rest
position in a direction of extension into a working position, and a
second sub-platform, which in the working position is disposed
behind the first sub-platform, wherein a rear boundary edge of the
first sub-platform and a front boundary edge of the second
sub-platform in the rest position are spaced vertically apart from
one another, with which platform arrangement the risk of accident
for an operative walking on the platform arrangement in the working
position is reduced, it is proposed that the platform arrangement
comprises a guide system, by means of which the relative motion
between the first sub-platform and the second sub-platform as the
first sub-platform moves into the working position is guided in
such a way that the vertical distance between the rear boundary
edge of the first sub-platform and the front boundary edge of the
second sub-platform in the working position is smaller than in the
rest position.
Inventors: |
Mueller, Guenther;
(Stuttgart, DE) ; Walter, Guenter; (Moeglingen,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAW OFFICE OF BARRY R LIPSITZ
755 MAIN STREET
MONROE
CT
06468
US
|
Assignee: |
Durr Systems GmbH
Otto-Durr-Strasse 8
Stuttgart
DE
70435
|
Family ID: |
7940247 |
Appl. No.: |
09/833028 |
Filed: |
April 11, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
118/324 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16P 1/00 20130101; B05B
16/40 20180201 |
Class at
Publication: |
118/324 |
International
Class: |
B05B 013/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 13, 2000 |
DE |
200 06 862.8 |
Claims
1. Walk-on platform arrangement, comprising at least a first
sub-platform, which is movable from a rest position in a direction
of extension into a working position, and a second sub-platform,
which in the working position is disposed behind the first
sub-platform, wherein a rear boundary edge of the first
sub-platform and a front boundary edge of the second sub-platform
in the rest position are spaced vertically apart from one another,
wherein the platform arrangement comprises a guide system, by means
of which the relative motion between the first sub-platform and the
second sub-platform as the first sub-platform moves into the
working position is guided in such a way that the vertical distance
between the rear boundary edge of the first sub-platform and the
front boundary edge of the second sub-platform in the working
position is smaller than in the rest position.
2. Walk-on platform arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the
guide system is designed in such a way that the vertical distance
between the rear boundary edge of the first sub-platform and the
front boundary edge of the second sub-platform in the working
position is smaller than the thickness of the second
sub-platform.
3. Walk-on platform arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the
guide system is designed in such a way that the vertical distance
between the rear boundary edge of the first sub-platform and the
front boundary edge of the second sub-platform in the working
position is substantially zero.
4. Walk-on platform arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the
guide system is designed in such a way that the front boundary edge
of the second sub-platform is lowered as the first sub-platform
moves into the working position.
5. Walk-on platform arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the
guide system comprises at least one first guide element disposed on
the one sub-platform and at least one second guide element disposed
on the other sub-platform.
6. Walk-on platform arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the
first guide element takes the form of a guideway, along which the
second guide element is guided.
7. Walk-on platform arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the
guideway comprises a substantially even rest portion and a
deflection portion directed obliquely relative to the rest
portion.
8. Walk-on platform arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the
deflection portion is inclined at an angle of approximately
20.degree. to approximately 60.degree., preferably at an angle of
approximately 40.degree. to approximately 50.degree., relative to
the even rest portion.
9. Walk-on platform arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the
guideway comprises a stop region for limiting the movement of the
second guide element relative to the guideway.
10. Walk-on platform arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the
first guide element comprises a receiving region for receiving the
second guide element in the working position.
11. Walk-on platform arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the
second guide element comprises at least one roller, preferably at
least two rollers.
12. Walk-on platform arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the
first sub-platform and/or the second sub-platform is capable of
swivelling about a substantially horizontal swivelling axis.
13. Walk-on platform arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the
sub-platforms comprise in each case a supporting frame for
receiving at least one grating.
14. Walk-on platform arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the
platform arrangement comprises at least one third sub-platform,
which in the working position is disposed behind the second
sub-platform, wherein a rear boundary edge of the second
sub-platform and a front boundary edge of the third sub-platform in
the rest position are spaced vertically apart from one another and
the platform arrangement comprises a guide system, by means of
which the relative motion between the second sub-platform and the
third sub-platform as the second sub-platform moves into the
working position is guided in such a way that the vertical distance
between the rear boundary edge of the second sub-platform and the
front boundary edge of the third sub-platform in the working
position is smaller than in the rest position.
15. Installation for lacquering workpieces, in particular vehicle
bodies, comprising a conveying apparatus for conveying the
workpieces through the installation and a walk-on platform
arrangement according to claim 1, which extends in the longitudinal
direction of the conveying apparatus and has a direction of
extension aligned transversely, preferably at right angles to the
longitudinal direction of the conveying apparatus.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a walk-on platform
arrangement comprising at least a first sub-platform, which is
movable from a rest position in a direction of extension into a
working position, and a second sub-platform, which in the working
position is disposed behind the first sub-platform, wherein a rear
boundary edge of the first sub-platform and a front boundary edge
of the second sub-platform in the rest position are spaced
vertically apart from one another.
[0002] Such platform arrangements are known from prior art.
[0003] In particular, such platform arrangements are known, which
comprise gratings and are used in automated zones of spray booths
in vehicle body lacquering installations to provide a walk-on
platform for maintenance purposes, whereas the sub-platforms of
said known walk-on platform arrangements in the rest position are
pushed together in such a way that the sub-platforms lie one above
the other.
[0004] A drawback of the known walk-on platform arrangements is
however that in the working position of the respective platform
arrangement steps are formed between the sub-platforms and pose an
accident risk because an operative walking on the platform
arrangement for maintenance purposes may stumble over such a step
and sustain a serious injury.
[0005] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide
a walk-on platform arrangement of the type described restly, which
reduces the risk of accident for an operative walking on the
platform arrangement in the working position.
[0006] In a walk-on platform arrangement having the features of the
preamble of claim 1 said object is achieved according to the
invention in that the platform arrangement comprises a guide
system, by means of which the relative motion between the first
sub-platform and the second sub-platform as the first sub-platform
moves into the working position is guided in such a way that the
vertical distance between the rear boundary edge of the first
sub-platform and the front boundary edge of the second sub-platform
in the working position is smaller than in the rest position.
[0007] In accordance with the concept according to the invention
the height of the step, which arises between the two sub-platforms
in the working position of the platform arrangement, is reduced
compared to the known platform arrangements so that the risk of an
operative stumbling or tripping over such a step while walking on
the platform arrangement is markedly reduced.
[0008] Simply bevelling the front edge of the more elevated
sub-platform would not have the desired effect because,
particularly in spray booths of a vehicle body lacquering
installation, the gratings of the platform arrangement are highly
greased so that at bevelled points of the platform arrangement
there would be a considerable danger of slipping, with the result
that the accident risk would be increased rather than reduced.
[0009] It is particularly advantageous when the guide system is
designed in such a way that the vertical distance between the rear
boundary edge of the first sub-platform and the front boundary edge
of the second sub-platform in the working position is smaller than
the thickness of the second sub-platform. It is thereby guaranteed
that the height of the step formed in the working position between
the two sub-platforms is smaller than the thickness of the more
elevated sub-platform, with the result that at such a step the foot
of an operative may not pass below the more elevated second
sub-platform and therefore get caught on the second sub-platform.
This substantially reduces the accident risk compared to a platform
arrangement, in which the step height is greater than the thickness
of the more elevated sub-platform so that the foot of an operative
may pass below the more elevated sub-platform.
[0010] In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the guide
system is designed in such a way that the vertical distance between
the rear boundary edge of the first sub-platform and the front
boundary edge of the second sub-platform in the working position is
substantially zero. As a result, there is substantially no step at
all formed between the two sub-platforms in the working position so
that along the point of separation between the two sub-platforms
there is no substantially greater risk of accident than at other
points of the platform arrangement.
[0011] In principle, for realization of the platform arrangement
according to the invention any relative motion between the two
sub-platforms may be considered, which results in the vertical
distance between the rear boundary edge of the first sub-platform
and the front boundary edge of the second sub-platform in the
working position being reduced compared to the rest position.
[0012] For example, it might therefore be provided that the guide
system is designed in such a way that the rear boundary edge of the
first sub-platform is raised as the first sub-platform moves into
the working position.
[0013] In a preferred construction of the platform arrangement
according to the invention it is however provided that the guide
system is designed in such a way that the front boundary edge of
the second sub-platform is lowered as the first sub-platform moves
into the working position.
[0014] As yet no detailed information has been provided about the
construction of the guide system.
[0015] It may therefore be provided that the guide system comprises
at least one first guide element disposed on the one sub-platform,
preferably at least two first guide elements disposed on the one
sub-platform, and at least one second guide element disposed on the
other sub-platform, preferably at least two second guide elements
disposed on the other sub-platform.
[0016] In particular, it may be provided that the first guide
element takes the form of a guideway, along which the second guide
element is guided.
[0017] In a particularly simple construction of the platform
arrangement according to the invention, the guideway comprises a
substantially even rest portion and a deflection portion directed
obliquely relative to the rest portion. By virtue of the deflection
of the second guide element in the deflection portion of the
guideway it is easily guaranteed that the two sub-platforms move in
the desired manner relative to one another.
[0018] In the present case it has proved particularly successful
when the deflection portion is inclined at an angle of
approximately 20.degree. to approximately 60.degree., preferably at
an angle of approximately 40.degree. to approximately 50.degree.,
relative to the even rest portion of the guideway.
[0019] To limit the maximum relative displacement of the two
sub-platforms in the direction of extension, it may be provided
that the guideway comprises a stop region for limiting the movement
of the second guide element relative to the guideway.
[0020] It may further be provided that the first guide element
comprises a receiving region for receiving the second guide element
in the working position. The effect achieved thereby is that the
position of the first guide element in the working position is well
defined and the sub-platforms of the platform arrangement in the
working position are not accidentally displaced relative to one
another, which might endanger an operative walking on the platform
arrangement.
[0021] In a preferred refinement of the platform arrangement
according to the invention, it is provided that the second guide
element comprises at least one roller. By virtue of the rolling of
said roller along a first guide element in the form of a guideway,
the two sub-platforms in the course of extension into the working
position are guided relative to one another with very low
friction.
[0022] The required relative motion in vertical direction between
the rear boundary edge of the first sub-platform and the front
boundary edge of the second sub-platform may be realized in a
simple manner in that the first sub-platform and/or the second
sub-platform is capable of swivelling about a substantially
horizontal swivelling axis.
[0023] It is further advantageous when the sub-platforms comprise
in each case a supporting frame for receiving at least one grating.
Such, mostly rectangular gratings are obtainable as standard
components, with the result that such a sub-platform comprising
gratings is particularly easy and inexpensive to manufacture.
[0024] A sub-platform formed at least partially by gratings is
moreover easy to clean.
[0025] In principle, the platform arrangement according to the
invention may be formed by two sub-platforms, which in the working
position are disposed one behind the other.
[0026] However, if the walk-on platform arrangement is to have as
large a walk-on surface as possible in the working position and yet
take up only a small amount of space in the rest position, it is
advantageous when the platform arrangement comprises at least one
third sub-platform, which in the working position is disposed
behind the second sub-platform, wherein in the rest position a rear
boundary edge of the second sub-platform and a front boundary edge
of the third sub-platform are spaced vertically apart from one
another and the platform arrangement comprises a guide system, by
means of which the relative motion between the second sub-platform
and the third sub-platform as the second sub-platform moves into
the working position is guided in such a way that the vertical
distance between the rear boundary edge of the second sub-platform
and the front boundary edge of the third sub-platform in the
working position is smaller than in the rest position.
[0027] In said manner the height of the step, which is formed in
the working position between the second and third sub-platform, is
reduced or even brought totally to zero in order to lessen the risk
of accident. In said case, the same concept is applied as has
already been described above for reducing the step height between
the first sub-platform and the second sub-platform.
[0028] The concept according to the invention may be extended in a
corresponding manner to include platform arrangements having any
desired number of sub-platforms.
[0029] The walk-on platform arrangement according to the invention
is particularly suitable for use in an installation for lacquering
workpieces, in particular vehicle bodies, which comprises a
conveying apparatus for conveying the workpieces through the
installation and a walk-on platform arrangement, wherein the
platform arrangement runs in longitudinal direction of the
conveying apparatus and has a direction of extension aligned
transversely, preferably at right angles to the longitudinal
direction of the conveying apparatus. An operative may walk on said
walk-on platform arrangement in the working position in order to
service the conveying apparatus, while the sub-platforms of the
walk-on platform arrangement in the rest position are spaced apart
from the conveying apparatus in the direction of extension so that
the sub-platforms in the rest position are situated outside the
operative range of the lacquering installation, in which the
workpieces are lacquered, and are therefore soiled with lacquer
mist only slightly or not at all.
[0030] Further features and advantages of the invention are the
subject matter of the following description and graphic
representation of embodiments.
[0031] The drawings show:
[0032] FIG. 1 a cross section through a conveying apparatus and
walk-on platform arrangements of a first embodiment disposed on
either side of said conveying apparatus and comprising in each case
three sub-platforms;
[0033] FIG. 2 a plan view of the conveying apparatus and the
platform arrangements of FIG. 1;
[0034] FIG. 3 an enlarged detail from FIG. 1 showing the first
embodiment of the platform arrangement in the working position;
[0035] FIG. 4 an enlarged detail from FIG. 1 showing the first
embodiment of the platform arrangement in the rest position;
[0036] FIG. 5 a longitudinal section through the first embodiment
of the platform arrangement in the working position in the region
of an inner platform element;
[0037] FIG. 6 a longitudinal section through the first embodiment
of the platform arrangement in the working position in the region
of a middle platform element;
[0038] FIG. 7 a longitudinal section through the first embodiment
of the platform arrangement in the working position in the region
of an outer platform element;
[0039] FIG. 8 an enlarged detail from FIG. 3 showing a swivel
mounting of a sub-platform of the first embodiment of the platform
arrangement;
[0040] FIG. 9 a side view of the mounting of the sub-platform of
FIG. 8 in the rest position;
[0041] FIG. 10 a view from the rear of the mounting of the
sub-platform of FIG. 9;
[0042] FIG. 11 a part-sectional plan view of the mounting of the
sub-platform of FIGS. 9 and 10;
[0043] FIG. 12 a cross section through a conveying apparatus and
platform arrangements of a second embodiment disposed on either
side of the conveying apparatus and comprising in each case two
sub-platforms;
[0044] FIG. 13 a plan view of the conveying apparatus and the
platform arrangements of FIG. 12;
[0045] FIG. 14 an enlarged detail from FIG. 12 showing the second
embodiment of a platform arrangement in the working position;
[0046] FIG. 15 an enlarged detail from FIG. 12 showing the second
embodiment of a platform arrangement in the rest position.
[0047] In all of the drawings identical or functionally equivalent
elements are denoted by the same reference characters.
[0048] A conveying apparatus 100, which is illustrated in FIGS. 1
to 3 by thin lines, is used to convey vehicle bodies (not shown)
through an automated zone of a spray booth (not shown), in which
the vehicle bodies are lacquered by means of automatic lacquering
machines.
[0049] To enable servicing of the conveying apparatus 100 and the
automatic lacquering machines in the spray booth, there is disposed
on either side of the conveying apparatus 100, which extends in a
longitudinal direction 102, a platform arrangement 104 comprising
in each case three platform elements 106.
[0050] The platform arrangement 104a, which is illustrated on the
left next to the conveying apparatus 100 in FIG. 1, is situated
precisely in the working position, in which the platform elements
106 are disposed side by side and jointly form a walk-on platform
extending as far as the conveying apparatus 100.
[0051] The platform element, which in the working position is
adjacent to the conveying apparatus 100, is referred to hereinafter
as the inner platform element 106a. The platform element, which in
the working position is furthest away from the conveying apparatus
100, is referred to hereinafter as the outer platform element 106c.
The platform element disposed between the inner and outer platform
element is referred to hereinafter as the middle platform element
106b.
[0052] The second platform arrangement 104b illustrated on the
right of the conveying apparatus 100 in FIG. 1 is constructed and
disposed, in relation to a longitudinal centre plane 108,
symmetrically to the first platform arrangement 104a.
[0053] In FIG. 1 the second platform arrangement 104b is situated
in the rest position, in which the three platform elements 106 are
disposed, not side by side, but one above the other so that in said
rest position the inner platform element 106a and the middle
platform element 106b are shielded by the outer platform element
106c against soiling during operation of the automatic lacquering
machines in the spray booth.
[0054] The view of FIG. 1 however serves merely as a comparison of
the working and rest positions of the platform arrangements 104; in
practice, the platform arrangements 104 are always either both in
the working position or both in the rest position.
[0055] There now follows a detailed description of the construction
of one of the platform arrangements 104.
[0056] As is evident in particular from FIGS. 2 and 5 to 7, the
platform arrangement 104 at an, in the longitudinal direction 102,
front end and at an, in the longitudinal direction 102, rear end is
delimited in each case by a side piece 110, which both extend
parallel to a horizontal direction of extension 112 aligned at
right angles to the longitudinal direction 102 of the conveying
apparatus 100 and have in each case a substantially U-shaped cross
section, wherein the open sides of said U-shaped cross sections are
directed towards one another (see FIGS. 5 to 7). The side pieces
110 are supported by their lower vertical limbs 114 on a flat base
116.
[0057] As may best be seen from the plan view of FIG. 2, a drive
shaft 118 extends between the ends of the side pieces 110 remote
from the conveying apparatus 100 and over virtually the entire
length of the platform arrangement 104 and is rotatably mounted on
two supporting walls 120, which are adjacent in each case to one of
the side pieces 110.
[0058] The drive shaft 118 may be set in rotation by a drive motor
122 (see FIG. 3) via a chain wheel 124 disposed on the output shaft
of the drive motor 122, a chain 126 and a chain wheel 128 disposed
on the drive shaft 118.
[0059] Two driving chain wheels 130 disposed in each case on the
ends of the drive shaft 118 carry in each case a driving chain 132,
which is further conveyed in each case around a deflection chain
wheel 134, which is rotatably mounted in a supporting wall 136.
[0060] The axes of the deflection chain wheels 134 and the driving
chain wheels 130 lie at the same level so that the upper strand 138
(see FIG. 5) and the lower strand 140 of each driving chain 132
extend substantially horizontally.
[0061] As is evident from FIG. 5, the upper strand 138 and the
lower strand 140 of each driving chain 132 extend between the lower
horizontal limb 114 and the upper horizontal limb 142 of the
respective side piece 110.
[0062] Fastened to the inside of the vertical web 144 of each side
piece 110 there is in each case a retaining rail 145, which extends
parallel to the direction of extension 112 and has a U-shaped cross
section, which is open towards the inside of the side pieces
110.
[0063] Fastened to the underside of the lower horizontal limb 148
of each retaining rail 145 are retaining brackets 146, which have a
substantially C-shaped, downwardly open cross section and are
spaced apart from one another in the direction of extension
112.
[0064] The plurality of retaining brackets 146, e.g. five, fastened
to the same retaining rail 145 together hold in each case one guide
rail 150, which has a likewise substantially C-shaped, downwardly
open cross section and extends in the direction of extension
112.
[0065] On each of the guide rails 150 in each case two rigid
running carriages 152 of the inner platform element 106a and in
each case one swivelling running carriage 154 of the middle
platform element 106b and of the outer platform element 106c are
guided so as to be displaceable in the direction of extension
112.
[0066] As may best be seen from FIGS. 5 to 7, each of the running
carriages 152, 154 comprises a substantially horizontal guide plate
160, which extends laterally from the supporting bracket 156 to a
point underneath the respective guide rail 150.
[0067] Extending from each guide plate 160 up into the interior of
the respective guide rail 150 is a vertical guide bar 162, which at
its top end carries a vertical retaining plate 163 (see FIG. 3), on
which in each case two pairs of guide rollers 164 are rotatably
mounted, which roll in each case along a lower horizontal guide
limb 166 (see FIGS. 5 to 7) of the guide rail 150 and hence guide
the respective running carriage 152, 154 along the guide rail 150
in the direction of extension 112.
[0068] While the swivelling running carriages 154 of the middle
platform element 106b and of the outer platform element 106c as
well as the rigid running carriages 152 of the inner platform
element 106a are used to guide the platform elements 106 along the
guide rails 150, a driver 168 disposed in the direction of
extension 112 between the two rigid guiding running carriages 152
of the first platform element 106a is used to effect the coupling
between the inner platform element 106a and the driving chain
132.
[0069] For said purpose, as may best be seen from FIG. 5, a lower
horizontal limb 170 (see FIG. 3) of a substantially Z-shaped
connection plate 172 is provided at the underside of the driver
168. The vertical web 174 adjoining the lower horizontal limb 170
of the connection plate 172 extends up beyond the height of the
lower horizontal limb 148 of the retaining rail 145 and carries at
its top edge the upper horizontal limb 176 of the connection plate
172, which extends between the lower horizontal limb 148 and the
upper horizontal limb 178 of the retaining rail 145 into the
interior of the latter.
[0070] Fastened, e.g. by welding, to the outside of the vertical
web 174 of the connection plate 172 directed towards the retaining
rail 145 is a connecting pin 180, which projects from the vertical
web 174 horizontally towards the lower strand 140 of the driving
chain 132 and is fastened to a pair of link plates of the driving
chain 132.
[0071] Thus, by means of the connecting pin 180 and the connection
plate 172 a rigid connection is established between the driving
chain 132 and the driver 168 so that, when the lower strand 140 of
the driving chain 132 moves in the direction of extension 112, the
inner platform element 106a simultaneously moves in the same
direction.
[0072] The upper strand 138 of the driving chain 132 extends, as
may be seen from FIG. 5, between the upper horizontal limb 178 of
the retaining rail 145, on the one hand, and the upper horizontal
limb 142 of the side piece 110, on the other hand. A vertical cover
plate 182 is disposed between the retaining rail 145 and the guide
rail 150, on the one hand, and the running carriages 152, 154 and
the driver 168, on the other hand.
[0073] As may best be seen from FIGS. 3 and 5 to 7, an inner
proximity switch 184 and an outer proximity switch 186 are further
disposed on the upper horizontal limb 178 of the retaining rail
145. The proximity switches 184, 186 respond to the presence of the
upper horizontal limb 176 of the connection plate 172 of the driver
168 in the detection range of the respective proximity switch.
[0074] The inner proximity switch 184 is disposed in such a way on
the retaining rail 145 that the upper horizontal limb 176 of the
driver 168 passes into the detection range of said proximity switch
when the platform arrangement 104a has reached its working
position, in which the inner platform element 106a is fully
extended. The inner proximity switch 184 then switches off the
drive motor 122 as soon as the working position has been
reached.
[0075] The outer proximity switch 186 is disposed in such a way on
the retaining rail 145 that the upper horizontal limb 176 of the
driver 168 passes into the detection range of said proximity switch
when the platform arrangement 104a is in its rest position, in
which the inner platform element 106a is fully retracted. On
attainment of said rest position, the outer proximity switch
switches off the drive motor 122.
[0076] An L-shaped supporting bracket 156 having a vertical limb
187 and an upper horizontal limb 188 extends upwards from the top
of each guide plate 160 of one of the running carriages 152, 154
and from the top of the lower horizontal limb 170 of each driver
168.
[0077] Fastened by means of suitable fastening bolts and nuts to
the top of the upper horizontal limb 188 of each lower supporting
bracket 156 of the running carriages 152, 154 or of the driver 168
there is in each case a horizontal supporting plate 190.
[0078] The supporting plates 190 of the rigid running carriages 152
and of the drivers 168 of the inner platform element 106a jointly
carry a substantially rectangular supporting frame 192a of the
inner platform element 106a.
[0079] As is evident from FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the supporting frame
192a comprises at its lower end horizontal supporting limbs 194,
with which the supporting frame 192a rests on the running carriages
152, 154 and the drivers 168, a vertical front boundary wall 196
forming a protective cover between the conveying apparatus 100 and
the platform arrangement 104a, a vertical rear boundary wall 198,
the upper edge of which forms a rear boundary edge 200, as well as
vertical side boundary walls 202 which extend parallel to the
direction of extension 112 and connect the front boundary wall 196
and the rear boundary wall 198 to one another.
[0080] As may best be seen from FIG. 5, the side boundary walls 202
at their upper edges carry horizontal rolling regions 204, which
project towards the interior of the supporting frame 192a.
[0081] Adjoining the inner edges of the horizontal rolling regions
204 are downward-extending vertical receiving edge regions 206, the
lower edges of which are in turn adjoined by horizontal receiving
bearing regions 208.
[0082] As FIG. 2 reveals, the front boundary wall 196 and the rear
boundary wall 198 of the supporting frame 192a are further
provided, by virtue of two transverse webs 210 extending parallel
to the direction of extension, with an in each case hat-shaped
profile comprising a middle horizontal rolling region 212 adjoined
at the lateral edges by downwardly projecting vertical receiving
edge regions 214, from the lower edges of which in turn in each
case a horizontal receiving bearing region 216 laterally
projects.
[0083] The mutually opposing receiving bearing regions 216 and
receiving edge regions 214 of the transverse webs 210, together
with the regions of the front boundary wall 196 and rear boundary
wall 198 delimited by the transverse webs 210, form a receiver 218
for a rectangular grating 220, which has parallel to the
longitudinal direction 102 an extension of approximately 1 m and
parallel to the direction of extension 112 an extension of
approximately 50 cm and rests with its underside on the receiving
bearing regions 216.
[0084] In a corresponding manner the receiving bearing regions 208
and the receiving edge regions 206, together with the in each case
opposite receiving bearing regions 216 and receiving edge regions
214 as well as the adjoining regions of the front boundary wall 196
and rear boundary wall 198, likewise form in each case rectangular
receivers 218 for in each case one rectangular grating 220.
[0085] For maintenance and cleaning purposes, the gratings 220 are
easily removable in an upward direction from the receivers 218.
[0086] The top surfaces of the gratings 220, together with the
rolling regions 204 and 212, form a flat walk-on sub-platform 222a
of the inner platform element 106a, the rear boundary of which is
formed by the rear boundary edge 200.
[0087] As may best be seen from FIG. 3, there is moreover disposed
at the rear boundary wall 196 of the supporting frame 192a a run-in
trough 224, which in the working position of the platform
arrangement 104a receives a plurality of, e.g. four, supporting
rollers 226, which are disposed at the front of the middle platform
element 106b.
[0088] The run-in trough 224 extends at right angles to the
direction of extension 112 over the entire length of the
sub-platform 222a and has a substantially constant cross section,
which comprises a run-in region 228 extending downwards from the
rear boundary edge 200 at an angle of approximately 45.degree.
relative to the top surface of the sub-platform 222a, a supporting
region 230 which adjoins the lower edge of the run-in region 228
and the top surface of which is aligned substantially parallel to
the top surface of the sub-platform 222a, and a stop region 232
which adjoins a rear edge of the supporting region 230 and extends
upwards from a rear edge of the supporting region 230 substantially
at right angles to the top surface of the sub-platform 222a.
Disposed below the run-in trough 224 are support plates 234, which
are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction 102
and fastened on the one hand to the underside of the support region
230 and on the other hand to the back of the rear boundary wall 198
and hence serve to support the run-in trough 224.
[0089] The middle platform element 106b, like the inner platform
element 106a, comprises a supporting frame 192b which is used to
receive three gratings 220. The supporting frame 192b is however
not rigidly connected at the front and rear to guiding running
carriages, like the supporting frame 192a of the inner platform
element 106a, but is held only at its rear pivotally on the two
swivelling running carriages 154. Details of said swivelling
mechanism are described below in connection with the outer platform
element 106c.
[0090] The rear boundary wall 198 of the supporting frame 192b of
the middle platform element 106b is designed to be higher than the
rear boundary wall 198 of the supporting element 192a of the inner
platform element 106a so as to allow the sub-platform 222a of the
inner platform element 106a in the rest position of the platform
arrangement 104a to be pushed under the sub-platform 222b of the
middle platform element 106b (see FIG. 4).
[0091] The front boundary of the supporting frame 192b of the
middle platform element 106b is formed by a right-angled angle
section 236 (see FIG. 3), which extends in the longitudinal
direction 102 over the entire length of the sub-platform 222b and
comprises a vertical limb 238 as well as a horizontal limb 240, the
top surface of which is disposed flush with the top surface of the
gratings 220 and forms part of the walk-on sub-platform 222b.
[0092] The front edge of the horizontal limb 240 of the angle
section 236 forms a front boundary edge 242 of the sub-platform
222b.
[0093] Fastened to the underside of the horizontal limb 240 and to
the front of the vertical limb 238 of the angle profile 236 is a
plurality of, e.g. four, bearing blocks 244, on each of which one
of the supporting rollers 226 of the middle platform element 106b
is rotatably mounted. The supporting rollers 226 are spaced apart
from one another in the longitudinal direction 102 and disposed in
such a way that, when the platform arrangement 104a is retracted
into its rest position, they roll along the rolling regions 204,
212 of the sub-platform 222a of the inner platform element
106a.
[0094] Just as in the case of the sub-platform 222a, the run-in
region 228 of a run-in trough 224 extends downwards from the rear
boundary edge 200 of the sub-platform 222b. The run-in trough 224
is supported by means of support plates 234 against the rear
boundary wall 198 of the supporting frame 192b of the middle
platform element 106b and is used, in the working position of the
platform arrangement 104a, to receive the supporting rollers 226 at
the front of the sub-platform 222c of the outer platform element
106c.
[0095] The outer platform element 106c, like the middle platform
element 106b, comprises a supporting frame 192c which is disposed
pivotally on the swivelling running carriages 154.
[0096] The rear boundary wall 198 of the supporting frame 192c is
designed to be higher than that of the supporting frame 192b of the
middle platform element 106b so as to allow the sub-platform 222b
in the rest position of the platform arrangement 104a to be pushed
under the sub-platform 222c of the outer platform element 106c (see
FIG. 4).
[0097] The sub-platform 222c, like the sub-platform 222b, is
provided at the front with an angle section 236, the front edge of
which forms the front boundary edge 242 of the sub-platform
222c.
[0098] The swivelling mechanism, by means of which the supporting
frame 192c is held pivotally on in each case one of the swivelling
running carriages 154, is described in detail below with reference
to FIGS. 9 to 11.
[0099] As may best be seen from FIG. 10, the underside of the
horizontal supporting limb 194 of the supporting frame 192c is
fastened to the top of a web 246, which extends in the longitudinal
direction 102 over the entire width of the sub-platform 222c.
[0100] Fastened to the underside of the web 246 is a bracket 248
with a U-shaped cross section (see FIG. 11), which opens towards
the front of the outer platform element 106c. The bracket 248
embraces a bearing block 250, which extends upwards from the top of
a horizontal supporting plate 190.
[0101] A cylindrical hinge pin 252 penetrates a horizontal
through-hole in the bearing block 250 and through-holes, aligned
with the horizontal through-hole, in the two limbs of the bracket
248 and is prevented from falling out of said through-holes by
arresting pins 254, which project radially from the hinge pin 252.
The axial play of the hinge pin 252 is reduced by washers 256.
[0102] By means of the swivelling mechanism described above, the
supporting frame 192c is capable of swivelling out of its
horizontal rest position forwards (i.e. in the viewing direction of
FIG. 9, clockwise) about the axis 258 of the hinge pin 252.
Swivelling of the supporting frame 192c in the opposite direction,
on the other hand, is not possible because the web 260 of the
bracket 248 strikes against the back of the bearing block 250 and
therefore prevents rearward swivelling of the supporting frame
192c.
[0103] The swivelling mechanism, by means of which the supporting
frame 192b of the middle platform element 106b is held pivotally on
the swivelling running carriages 154, is of exactly the same
construction as the previously described swivelling mechanism.
[0104] In order during extension of the inner platform element 106a
to prevent the outer platform element 106c from being
simultaneously moved in the direction of extension 112, a retaining
angle 262 is moreover provided (see FIG. 8), which is fastened via
a retaining plate 264 and by means of fastening screws 268 (see
FIG. 7), which penetrate oblong holes 266 in the retaining plate
264, to a side wall 270 of a construction denoted as a whole by
272, which is carried by the side piece 110 (see FIG. 5).
[0105] As may best be seen from FIG. 8, the retaining angle 262
comprises an upper horizontal bearing plate 274, the front 275 of
which is bent downwards at an angle to enable swivelling of the
sub-platform 222c.
[0106] Provided in the bearing plate 274 is a through-hole, which
is approximately aligned with a through-hole in the horizontal
rolling region 204 of the supporting frame 192c of the outer
platform element 106c, so that a substantially cylindrical
retaining pin 276 may be inserted vertically through the two
through-holes in order to arrest the outer platform element 106c
against the retaining angle 262.
[0107] The retaining pin 276 is fastened to the underside of a base
plate 278, which on its top surface carries a handle 280 curved
into the shape of a bow, both ends of which are fastened to the
base plate 278.
[0108] The retaining pin 276, the base plate 278 and the handle 280
together form a connector 282, which may be used to arrest the
outer platform element 106c against the retaining angle 262.
[0109] The connector 282 may however also be used to fix the three
platform elements 106a, 106b and 106c relative to one another in
order to draw said platform elements jointly as a stack towards the
conveying apparatus 100 in order to clean the region of the spray
booth, above which the platform elements are disposed in the rest
position of the platform arrangement 104a.
[0110] For said purpose, the horizontal rolling regions 204 of the
supporting frames 192a, 192b and 192c have in each case
approximately central through-holes, which in the rest position of
the platform arrangement 104a are substantially mutually aligned so
that the connector 282 may be inserted, retaining pin 276 first,
through the through-holes of all three platform elements, with the
result that the platform elements are fixed relative to one another
and, when the inner platform element 106a is extended, the middle
platform element 106b and the outer platform element 106c are
carried along by the inner platform element 106a.
[0111] As already mentioned, the platform arrangement 104b disposed
at the other side of the conveying apparatus 100 is constructed and
disposed, in relation to the longitudinal centre plane 108,
substantially symmetrically to the platform arrangement 104a. The
platform arrangement 104b however does not have an independent
drive motor; rather, the drivers 168 of the inner platform element
106a of the platform arrangement 104b are simultaneously moved in
synchronism with the drivers 168 of the platform arrangement 104a
by the joint driving chain 132.
[0112] However, because the direction of extension of the platform
arrangement 104b is in the opposite direction to the direction of
extension of the platform arrangement 104a, the connecting pins 180
of the drivers 168 of the platform arrangement 104b are connected,
not to the lower strand 140, but instead to the upper strand 138 of
the driving chain 132. As the upper strand 138 and the lower strand
140 of the driving chain 132 always move in opposite directions to
one another, it is therefore guaranteed that, when the inner
platform element 106a of the platform arrangement 104a is extended
into the working position, the inner platform element 106a of the
platform arrangement 104b is also extended towards the conveying
apparatus 100, and that, when the inner platform element 106a of
the platform arrangement 104a is retracted into the rest position,
the inner platform element 106a of the platform arrangement 104b is
also moved into the rest position.
[0113] Since the platform arrangements 104a and 104b are always
moved in synchronism, there is no need to provide proximity
switches also on the retaining rails 145 of the second platform
arrangement 104b because the drive motor 122 is controlled by means
of the proximity switches 184, 186 of the first platform
arrangement 104a.
[0114] In longitudinal direction 102 a further platform arrangement
may adjoin the first platform arrangement 104a and a further
platform arrangement may adjoin the second platform arrangement
104b.
[0115] By means of a transmission the common drive shaft of such
additional platform arrangements may be driven likewise by the
drive motor 122 of the platform arrangements 104a, 104b. Such a
transmission denoted by 284 in FIG. 3 comprises a transmission
shaft 286, which is disposed below the drive shaft 118 and carries
a chain wheel 288, which by means of a transmission chain 290 is
drivable by a transmission chain wheel 292, which is disposed on
the drive shaft 118 adjacent to one of the driving chain wheels 130
(see FIG. 2).
[0116] The platform arrangements described above operate as
follows.
[0117] During operation of the spray booth, in which the vehicle
bodies conveyed through the spray booth by means of the conveying
apparatus 100 are lacquered, the platform arrangements 104a, 104b
are both situated in the rest position shown in FIG. 4, in which
the sub-platforms 222a, 222b and 222c are disposed one above the
other. In said case, the supporting rollers 226 of the middle
platform elements 106b are supported on the rolling regions 204,
212 of the sub-platforms 222a of the inner platform elements 106a,
so that the sub-platforms 222b of the middle platform elements 106b
are aligned substantially horizontally.
[0118] In a corresponding manner the supporting rollers 226 of the
outer platform elements 106c are supported on the rolling regions
204, 212 of the sub-platforms 222b of the middle platform elements
106b, so that the sub-platforms 222c of the outer platform elements
106c are aligned substantially horizontally.
[0119] The front boundary walls 196 of the supporting frames 192a
of the inner platform elements 106a in said case fully overlap the
fronts of the sub-platforms 222a, 222b and 222c, so that the
supporting rollers 226 are shielded from the lacquer mist produced
during lacquering of the vehicle bodies and hence do not become
sticky but remain rotatable.
[0120] When the spray booth is to be serviced or cleaned, the drive
motor 122 is started to set the driving chains 132 in rotation, and
indeed in such a way that (viewed in the direction of FIGS. 3 and
4) the upper strand 138 of each driving chain 132 moves to the
right and the lower strand 140 of each driving chain 132 moves to
the left.
[0121] The drivers 168 are therefore moved in such a way that the
inner platform elements 106a of both platform arrangements 104a,
104b are moved in the respective direction of extension 112 towards
the conveying apparatus 100. During said extension motion of the
inner platform elements 106a the supporting rollers 226 roll along
the rolling regions 204, 212 of the sub-platforms 222a until they
reach the rear boundary edges 200 of the sub-platforms 222a. The
supporting rollers 226 then run down along the run-in regions 228
of the run-in troughs 224 at the rear end of the inner platform
elements 106a until the supporting rollers 226 reach the support
regions 230 and the angle sections 236 strike against the stop
regions 232 of the run-in troughs 224. During said downward motion
of the supporting rollers 226, the sub-platforms 222b of the middle
platform elements 106b are swivelled in a downward direction about
the swivelling axes 258 so that the sub-platforms 222b adopt the
slightly inclined position shown in FIG. 3.
[0122] As soon as the angle profiles 236 of the middle platform
elements 106b strike against the stop regions 232 of the run-in
troughs 224 of the inner platform elements 106a, the middle
platform elements 106b guided on the swivelling brackets 154 are
moved simultaneously with the inner platform elements 106a in the
direction of extension 112.
[0123] In said case, the supporting rollers 226 of the outer
platform elements 106c roll along the rolling regions 204, 212 of
the middle sub-platforms 222b until the supporting rollers 226
reach the rear boundary edges 200 of the sub-platforms 222b. The
swivelling running carriages 154 of the outer platform elements
106c in said case do not move simultaneously in the direction of
extension 112 because the outer platform elements 106c are arrested
against the retaining angles 262 by means of the connector 282.
[0124] The supporting rollers of the outer platform elements 106c,
after passing the rear boundary edge 200 of the sub-platform 222b,
run down along the run-in regions 228 of the run-in troughs 224 of
the middle platform elements 106b, wherein the sub-platforms 222c
of the outer platform elements 106c swivel about their swivelling
axes 258 in such a way that they adopt the inclined position shown
in FIG. 3.
[0125] Before the angle sections 236 at the front of the
sub-platforms 222c reach the stop regions 232 of the run-in troughs
224 of the middle platform elements 106b, the upper horizontal
limbs 176 of the connection plates 172 on the drivers 168 of the
inner platform elements 106a pass into the range of the inner
proximity switches 184, at which point the drive motor 122 is
immediately switched off.
[0126] The platform arrangements 104a, 104b are then situated in
the working position shown in FIG. 3, in which the sub-platforms
222a, 222b and 222c are disposed side by side and form a complete
walk-on platform. As may be seen from FIG. 3, the front boundary
edges 242 of the sub-platforms 222b and 222c are situated
substantially at the same height as the rear boundary edges 200 of
the sub-platforms 222a and 222b respectively, so that the complete
platform has no steps, over which a person walking on the complete
platform might stumble and sustain an injury.
[0127] Furthermore, the horizontal distances between the front
boundary edges 242 of the sub-platforms 222b and 222c, on the one
hand, and the rear boundary edges 200 of the sub-platforms 222a and
222b respectively are also so small that between the sub-platforms
there is only a narrow gap, which is too small for the shoes of a
person walking on the complete platform to get caught in.
[0128] The inclination of the sub-platforms 222b and 222c is less
than 10.degree. relative to the horizontal and therefore so slight
that the possibility of a person, who is walking on the complete
platform, slipping on the inclined gratings 220 is substantially
ruled out even when said gratings are highly greased and therefore
slippery.
[0129] After maintenance and/or cleaning work in the spray booth
has been completed, the platform arrangements 104a, 104b are moved
back into the rest position by restarting the drive motor 122 in
the opposite direction of rotation. The inner platform elements
106a are therefore moved away from the conveying apparatus 100
counter to the respective directions of extension 112. In said
case, the supporting rollers 226 of the middle platform elements
106b run up along the run-in regions 228 of the run-in troughs 224
at the back of the inner platform elements 106a, with the result
that the sub-platforms 222b are swivelled back into their
horizontal starting position.
[0130] The supporting rollers 226 of the middle platform elements
106b then roll forward along the rolling regions 204, 212 of the
sub-platforms 222a until the front boundary edges 242 of the
sub-platforms 222b strike against the front boundary walls 196 of
the inner platform elements 106a.
[0131] From said moment at the latest, the supporting rollers 226
of the outer platform elements 106c move relative to the middle
platform elements 106b and run up along the run-in regions 228 of
the run-in troughs 224 at the back of the middle platform elements
106b, with the result that the sub-platforms 222c of the outer
platform elements 106c are swivelled back into their horizontal
starting position. The supporting rollers 226 of the outer platform
elements 106c then roll along the rolling regions 204, 212 of the
sub-platforms 222b until the upper horizontal limbs 176 of the
connection plates 172 on the drivers 168 of the inner platform
elements 106a pass into the range of the outer proximity switches
186, at which point the drive motor 122 is immediately switched
off.
[0132] The platform arrangements 104a, 104b are then situated once
more in the rest position shown in FIG. 4, in which the vertical
distances between the front boundary edges 242 of the sub-platforms
222b and 222c, on the one hand, and the rear boundary edges 200 of
the sub-platforms 222a and 222b respectively are greater than the
thickness of the sub-platforms 222b and 222c respectively.
[0133] When the area overlapped by the platform elements 106a,
106b, 106c in the rest position of the platform arrangements 104a,
104b is to be cleaned, the inner platform elements 106a are moved
in the previously described manner towards the conveying apparatus
100 by means of the drive motor 122; before starting the drive
motor 122, however, the connectors 282 are removed from the
retaining angles 262 and introduced instead into the through-holes
in the middle region of the rolling regions 204 of the
sub-platforms 222a, 222b and 222c in order to eliminate a relative
motion of the platform elements 106a, 106b and 106c. As a result,
the platform elements are moved jointly towards the conveying
apparatus 100, and the area overlapped by the platform arrangements
104a, 104b in the rest position is freely accessible for cleaning
purposes.
[0134] The platform arrangements according to a second embodiment,
which are illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 15, differ from the platform
arrangements according to the first embodiment described above
merely in that the platform arrangements of the second embodiment
comprise in each case only two platform elements, namely an inner
platform element 106a and an outer platform element 106c, and there
is no middle platform element 106b.
[0135] Thus, in the working position shown in FIG. 14 the
supporting rollers 226 of the outer platform elements 106c are
accommodated in the run-in troughs 224 at the back of the inner
platform elements 106a, wherein the front boundary edge 242 of the
sub-platform 222c is situated substantially at the same height as
the rear boundary edge 200 of the inner platform elements 106a.
[0136] In the rest position shown in FIG. 15, the supporting
rollers 226 of the outer platform elements 106c are supported
directly on the rolling regions 204, 212 of the sub-platforms 222a
of the inner platform elements 106a.
[0137] Otherwise, the platform arrangements 104a, 104b are
identical in construction and function to the platform arrangements
104a, 104b of the first embodiment and to said extent reference is
made to the above description thereof.
[0138] The present disclosure relates to the subject matter
disclosed in German utility model No. 200 06 862.8 of Apr. 13,
2000, the entire specification of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
* * * * *